Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

I got a "TG" (Tour Grade) mic stand from GC a while back - seemed heavy duty enough at the time, but when I extend it all the way out, the weight of my mic well exceeds the balance of the base, so I have to make sure it extends over one of the 3 legs, and basically have to duct tape the feet for safety!

Anyone have a recommendation on a good mic stand that's a little more forgiving on extending the boom? Or is this pretty much what one expects, less adding your own bench press weights onto the base?

Sir

SirJamsalot wrote:I got a "TG" (Tour Grade) mic stand from GC a while back - seemed heavy duty enough at the time, but when I extend it all the way out, the weight of my mic well exceeds the balance of the base, so I have to make sure it extends over one of the 3 legs, and basically have to duct tape the feet for safety!

Anyone have a recommendation on a good mic stand that's a little more forgiving on extending the boom? Or is this pretty much what one expects, less adding your own bench press weights onto the base?

Sir

I've never used mic stands with legs. A round and heavy base always (well at least once I could afford it. I had to build my own at first). That thing should stay up like a Weebles Wobble or it ain't no good. JMO

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018T ... ss_product

I just bought this one tonight Jams. looks like a good one to me. Good price too!

Thanks Mike n Brian
Hey, I think I can afford 12 bucks! I'll give it a rip.

Sir[/i]

SirJamsalot wrote:I got a "TG" (Tour Grade) mic stand from GC a while back - seemed heavy duty enough at the time, but when I extend it all the way out, the weight of my mic well exceeds the balance of the base, so I have to make sure it extends over one of the 3 legs, and basically have to duct tape the feet for safety!

Anyone have a recommendation on a good mic stand that's a little more forgiving on extending the boom? Or is this pretty much what one expects, less adding your own bench press weights onto the base?

Sir

If you use a heavy mic and want to max out the boom you will need a really heavy counter weight along with a really heavy base. This will work but if any exuberant fans bump it while dancing to your grooves, the boom stand will go down hard and risk damaging your toes, your gear or anything else it lands on. Been there, done that.

It's really a basic physics problem. The best use of any boom stand is to only extend the boom until the mic is balanced by the counterweight. Depending on the mic you use this might vary a lot. I use a 58 when playing live and only extend the boom 2/3s out. A lightweight condenser could be extended much further and still remain balanced.

I hope this makes sense?!?!

Jams, can I infer from your situation, that you're a keyboardist?

Yeah, it makes sense. I'm looking for a mic stand that accommodates the physics it employs. If you're gonna build a speedometer for a lamborghini, you want it to read at least 100 mph, right? If you're gonna build a mic stand that extends past the base, you make the base accommodate the extention, right? =:) At least add holes in the feet so you can drive some nails thru them into the floor, or a notch to hang extra weights. The one I got you need to modify to make it work.

So, just lookin for mic stand that does what it advertises is all ^.^
Thanks!
Sir.

TheJohnny7Band wrote:

SirJamsalot wrote:I got a "TG" (Tour Grade) mic stand from GC a while back - seemed heavy duty enough at the time, but when I extend it all the way out, the weight of my mic well exceeds the balance of the base, so I have to make sure it extends over one of the 3 legs, and basically have to duct tape the feet for safety!

Anyone have a recommendation on a good mic stand that's a little more forgiving on extending the boom? Or is this pretty much what one expects, less adding your own bench press weights onto the base?

Sir

If you use a heavy mic and want to max out the boom you will need a really heavy counter weight along with a really heavy base. This will work but if any exuberant fans bump it while dancing to your grooves, the boom stand will go down hard and risk damaging your toes, your gear or anything else it lands on. Been there, done that.

It's really a basic physics problem. The best use of any boom stand is to only extend the boom until the mic is balanced by the counterweight. Depending on the mic you use this might vary a lot. I use a 58 when playing live and only extend the boom 2/3s out. A lightweight condenser could be extended much further and still remain balanced.

I hope this makes sense?!?!

celticpiping wrote:Jams, can I infer from your situation, that you're a keyboardist?

No! I wish I knew how to play the keys! I would just like to be able to have the boom reach so the base is away from the rest of my equipment while recording is all. It's no biggie - I could hang the mic from my rafters if it were really that big of a deal - it's just a nice to have-ism is all

Sir

ah..
I guessed that cause my wife(keys) is forever trying to coax one more inch outta the boom to reach her vox, and often the thing ends up a bit...tipsy.

If this is just for recording, and no one is gonna see it - get an old plastic gallon jug, or something, and slide it over the counterweight.
Fill w/ water as needed . . .
.
Or duct-tape the back end of the boom against the vertical part of the stand.

They make mike stands w/ round bases which are pretty heavy . . . the tripods will always be tipsy . . .

Just tie a black thread from the counterweight to the tripod, or use any number of things, like black elastic thread, cuz it'll have some give in it, for minor adjustments. Another solution is to buy another boom, & a threaded sleeve, so that you will have maximum extension, while still having the necessary balance. I have never seen a stand that would remain balanced when the boom is fully extended level with the floor. The only time I've seen it used that way was for overhead use, &, of course, it IS more balanced that way.

Oh! You need a real boom stand. This ought to do it:
http://www.fullcompass.com/product/295539.html

40 lbs total weight and a 6lb counter weight will cover most needs in a studio. It doesn't come cheap though, and no matter how heavy it is you can still exceed the counter weight balance with a heavy dynamic mic extended all the way out.

TheJohnny7Band wrote:Oh! You need a real boom stand. This ought to do it:
http://www.fullcompass.com/product/295539.html

40 lbs total weight and a 6lb counter weight will cover most needs in a studio. It doesn't come cheap though, and no matter how heavy it is you can still exceed the counter weight balance with a heavy dynamic mic extended all the way out.

ooooooh. that's a beauty. A few too many $$ for my current budget, but I'll keep this link handy. Thanks!

I use these all the time.

Take one or two of the longest black tube socks you can find. Go to any fishing outlet store and buy a bunch of cheep egg shaped lead sinkers around $2.24 a pound. Fill the socks, wrap around the bottom of the mic stand. They are flexable enough to use on any mic stand and work perfect. I usually use 7 to 8 lbs.